I obtained my BSc (summa cum laude) at the University of the Philippines Diliman, working as an undergraduate thesis student for Dr. Cynthia Hedreyda. I completed my MSc and PhD degrees at the University of Guelph, under the supervision of Dr. Jane Robb and Dr. Ross Nazar. Before joining Laurier, I was an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Energy Plant Research Laboratory and Plant Resilience Institute (Michigan State University) in the laboratory of Dr. Sheng Yang He (Howard Hughes Medical Institute). There, I characterized regulatory mechanisms of plant immune signaling and microbial pathogenesis.

My laboratory is currently investigating how environmental factors (like elevated temperature) influence plant immune responses at the molecular level. The aim of my research program is to create an integrative model of the mechanisms underlying plant-pathogen interactions in a changing environment, in order to better understand and improve plant resilience.

• OMAFRA Ontario Agri-food Research Initiative (2021-2023)
• Editorial Board, Frontiers in Plant Science (2021)
• Laurier Internal Research Grant (2021-2022)
• Laurier Internal Equipment Grant (2021-2022)
• NSERC Discovery Grant (2020-2025)
• NSERC Discovery Launch Supplement (2020-2025)
• John R. Evans Leaders Fund - Canada Foundation for Innovation (2020)
• Ontario Research Fund - Small Infrastructure Fund (2020)
• Laurier Internal Travel Grant (2020-2022)
• NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018-19)
• Assistant Features Editor, The Plant Cell (2018-19)
• Michigan State University (MSU) Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar (2017)
• MSU Leadership Academy (2017)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2013-14, 2007-09)
• NSERC Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (2010-13)
• The Guelph Mercury Top 40 Under 40 Award (2013)

The Castroverde Lab is currently looking for motivated graduate and undergraduate students to investigate the mechanisms underlying temperature regulation of various plant defence pathways. Students will learn concepts and methodologies in plant biology, molecular biology, microbiology, biochemistry and genetics. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a curriculum vitae and a one-page statement of research interests.

Salicylic Acid and N-Hydroxypipecolic Acid at the Fulcrum of the Plant Immunity-Growth Equilibrium.

Shields, A., Shivnauth, V. and Castroverde, C.D.M. (2022) Frontiers in Plant Science. 13:841688. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.841688

Salicylic acid: A key regulator of redox signalling and plant immunity

Saleem, M., Fariduddin, Q. and Castroverde, C.D.M. (2021) Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 168:381-397. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.10.011.

Molecular Mechanisms of Nitric Oxide (NO) Signaling and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Homeostasis during Abiotic Stresses in Plants.

Wani, K.I., Naeem, M., Castroverde, C.D.M., Kalaji, H.M., Albaqami, M. and Aftab, T. (2021) International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(17):9656.

Temperature regulation of plant hormone signaling during stress and development.

Castroverde, C.D.M. and Dina, D. (2021) Journal of Experimental Botany, erab257.

Mechanistic Insights into Strigolactone Biosynthesis, Signaling, and Regulation During Plant Growth and Development.

Wani, K.I., Zehra, A., Choudhary, S., Naeem, M., Khan, M.M.A., Castroverde, C.D.M. and Aftab, T. (2020) Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10234-w.

Diversity, Function and Regulation of Cell Surface and Intracellular Immune Receptors in Solanaceae.

Kim, J.H. and Castroverde, C.D.M. (2020) Plants, 9:E434.

The AREB1-ADA2b-GCN5 complex regulates gene expression during drought stress. 

Castroverde, C.D.M. (2019) Plant Cell, 31:559-560.

Wounding induces tomato Ve1 R-gene expression.

Nazar, R.N., Castroverde, C.D.M., Xu, X., Kurosky, A. and Robb, J. (2019) Planta, 249:1779-1797.

Differential repression of the Ve R-genes in tomato. 

Castroverde, C.D.M., De Avila, L.G.M., Amaya Romero, V., Blaya-Fernandez, J., Nazar, R.N. and Robb, J. (2019) Plant Gene, 18:100174.

Plant systemic immunity comes full circle: A positive regulatory loop for defense amplification. 

Castroverde, C.D.M. (2018). Plant Cell, 30:2238-2239.

Plant-pathogen warfare under changing climate conditions. 

Velasquez, A., Castroverde, C.D.M. and He, S.Y. (2018) Current Biology, 28: R619-R634.

Heat trims the fat: HIL1 functions in lipid homeostasis. 

Castroverde, C.D.M. (2018). Plant Cell, 30:1670-1671.

Dual impact of elevated temperature on plant defence and bacterial virulence in Arabidopsis. 

Huot, B., Castroverde, C.D.M., Velasquez, A., Hubbard, E., Pulman, J.A., Yao, J., Childs, K.L., Tsuda, K., Montgomery, B.L. and He, S.Y. (2017) Nature Communications, 8:1808.

Biotic factors that induce the tomato Ve1 R-gene. 

Castroverde, C.D.M., Xu, X., Nazar, R.N. and Robb, J. (2017) Plant Science, 265:61-69.

Epistatic influence in tomato Ve1-mediated resistance. 

Castroverde, C.D.M., Xu, X., Blaya Fernandez, J., Nazar, R.N. and Robb, J. (2017) Plant Biology, 19:843-847.

Verticillium Ave1 effector induces defense genes independent of Ve1. 

Castroverde, C.D.M., Nazar, R.N. and Robb, J. (2016) Plant Signaling and Behavior, 11:e1245254.

Patterns of defence gene expression in the tomato-Verticillium interaction. 

Robb, J., Castroverde, C.D.M., Shittu, H.O. and Nazar, R.N. (2009) Botany, 87:1-14.

Genetic dissection of Verticillium wilt resistance mediated by tomato Ve1. 

Fradin, E.F., Zhang, Z., Juarez-Ayala, J.C., Castroverde, C.D.M., Nazar, R.N., Robb, J., Liu, C.-M. and Thomma, B. (2009) Plant Physiology, 150:320-332.

Plant-endophyte interplay protects tomato against a virulent Verticillium. 

Shittu, H.O., Castroverde, C.D.M., Nazar, R.N. and Robb, J. (2009) Planta, 229:415-426.

Differential detection of vibrios pathogenic to shrimp by multiplex PCR. 

Castroverde, C.D.M., San Luis, B.B., Monsalud, R.G. and Hedreyda, C.T. (2006) Journal of General and Applied Microbiology, 52:273-280.

BI236 (Cell and Molecular Biology)

BI369 (Plant Physiology)

BI463 (Environmental Stress Biology of Plants)

Wilfrid Laurier University Office of Research Services: 

Annual Report 2019-2020 Purposeful Partnerships: A Year in Review - "Strengthening Plant Immunity" feature

Wilfrid Laurier University News: 

Laurier researchers receive $3.3 million from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Michigan State University News: 

Christian Danve Castroverde joins Wilfrid Laurier University as Assistant Professor